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February 16, 2018 | NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS
HAPPENINGS
Portland Metro Fire Camp for
young women ages 16 to 20
will be held in July and August
in Portland and Sherwood. The
three-day camp is an opportu-
nity for the young women to
experience the unique aspects
of being a firefighter.
The camp is taught by fe-
male firefighters from Portland,
Albany, Bend, Camas/Washou-
gal, Clackamas County, Co-
lumbia County, Gresham,
Medford, Newberg, Salem, Tu-
alatin Valley, and Vancouver
fire departments.
Work stations include:
Search and rescue, Jaws of Life
operation, climbing an aerial
ladder, fire hose operation, and
forcing doors. Young women
will also learn about nutrition,
physical fitness, interview
Photo by Danika Klein
Firefighters to hold camp for women 16 to 20
skills, and emergency medical
service (EMS).
Participants are selected
through an application process.
“We try to accommodate as
many campers as possible,
which is why we are hosting
two camps this year,” said Port-
land firefighter Terra Van-
dewiele.
The first camp is July 13-15
at Portland Fire & Rescue’s
training center, 4800 NE 122nd
Ave. Portland.
The second camp is Aug. 10-
12 at Tualatin Valley Fire &
Rescue’s training center, 12400
SW Tonquin Rd, Sherwood.
Applications will become
available soon (they’re shoot-
ing for the end of February, be-
ginning of March) and can be
found at https://www.port-
landoregon. gov/fire/firecamp .
For more information, call
Tammy Willet at 503-823-
3892, or email tammy.willet@
portlandoregon.gov.
TRADE
America’s trade deficit soars in Trump’s first year
China deficit hits new record
The U.S. trade deficit surged to
its highest level since 2008 dur-
ing President Trump’s first year
in office — despite his vow to
lower the gap and crack down
on unfair competition.
The nation’s trade gap in
goods and services jumped
12.1 percent to $566 billion in
2017, an increase of $61.2 bil-
lion from 2016. The 2017 trade
deficit was the highest since
2008, when the deficit hit
$708.7 billion, the Commerce
Department reported Feb. 6.
Over the course of the year,
imports surged to $2.9 trillion,
easily eclipsing the $2.3 trillion
in U.S. exports.
Notably, the U.S. deficit in
goods soared to a record-high
$375.2 billion with China, a na-
tion that Trump has both demo-
nized and praised on trade dur-
ing his tenure.
Who’s on our side?
By Tom Chamberlain oregon AFL-CIo President
The lessons of 1968
still matter today
On Feb. 1, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee, black sanitation workers
Echol Cole and Robert Walker were killed by a malfunctioning
garbage truck during a heavy rain storm. That same day, 22 black
sewer workers were sent home without pay while their white su-
pervisors worked with pay. Twelve days later, growing frustrated
with city officials’ inaction following a long history of neglect and
abuse of black city employees, 1,300 black sanitation workers
walked off the job and began one of the most historic strikes of the
20th century.
Memphis sanitation workers organized with AFSCME in 1964.
Working conditions worsened after Mayor Henry Loeb took office
in January 1968. Loeb refused to stop using dilapidated trucks or
pay overtime when workers were forced to work late. The workers
earned wages so low many were on welfare or relied on food
stamps.
AFSCME President Jerry Wurf demanded union recognition,
better working conditions and increased wages. The strike lasted
for months. Strikers and supporters were clubbed and tear-gassed
on numerous occasions. Loeb refused to recognize the actions of
his City Council, who recognized the union and recommended a
wage increase. Loeb called for martial law and deployment of 4,000
National Guard troops. The following day, over 200 striking work-
ers continued marching, carrying signs saying: “I Am a Man.”
Dr. Martin Luther King is viewed today by the establishment as
a hero. Streets and schools are named after him. But in 1968, Dr.
King was viewed as a dangerous radical. He led non-violent ac-
tivism throughout the South, pushing back against the American
caste system. The struggle for civil rights radicalized him into a
fighter for broader economic and social justice. He once stated:
“what good was winning the right to eat at a dime-store lunch
counter if you couldn’t afford a hamburger and a Coke?” The Poor
People’s Campaign resulted from the development of Dr. King’s
economic view: The movement must include black people, Native
Americans, Latinos, and poor whites. In other words, America can-
not achieve racial justice without economic justice. The Poor Peo-
ple’s Campaign brought Dr. King to Memphis on March 18, 1968,
leading a massive protest, which uncharacteristically turned violent.
Discouraged, Dr. King left Memphis planning to return for another
march in support of the striking sanitation workers. Within days,
Memphis received an injunction prohibiting marches. Dr. King im-
mediately returned to Memphis to encourage the workers to con-
tinue their protest.
On April 3, 1968, Dr. King gave the inspiring “I’ve Been to the
Mountaintop” speech to the strikers and supporters. The speech
eerily foreshadowed his murder, which happened 24 hours later.
“Like anybody, I would like to live a long life—longevity has its
place. But I’m not concerned about that now—I’ve seen the Prom-
ised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know
tonight that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land.”
Responding to Dr. King’s murder and the anger it generated,
King’s longtime Memphis ally Rev. James Lawson recorded a radio
message urging calm and non-violence. Mayor Loeb’s response
was to deploy police and the National Guard and establish a curfew.
Finally, President Johnson charged the Undersecretary of Labor to
find a solution and ended the strike.
On April 8, Dr. King’s widow, Coretta Scott King, and union
leaders led 42,000 silently through Memphis in peaceful protest.
On the steps of City Hall, AFSCME pledged support of the striking
workers until “we have justice.”
On April 16, a deal was reached, ending the strike. It included
increased wages and recognition of the union. The mayor didn’t
implement the proposal until the sanitation workers threatened an-
other strike.
The lessons of 1968 matter today. We can learn much from the
persistence and solidarity seen in Memphis 50 years ago. Dr. King’s
vision of unifying economic and racial justice cannot be forgotten.
The oregon AFL-CIo is a 138,000-member-strong federation of labor unions.